5k

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TTT: Tennis, Orthotics, Racing

This week, I was scheduled to play tennis both Monday & Tuesday.  As a result, I did not run those days.  I’m okay with that since I put in 14 miles over the weekend. I am trying to put my heart into tennis.  Tennis used to be everything to me.  Now all I can think about is running.

I got my orthotics last Friday.  They were pretty uncomfortable at first but are getting better.  I’m supposed to wear them for one hour and then add one extra hour each day.  Today I’m up to 7 hours so that means I bring them to work & wear them all day at my desk. The Dr says it’ll take a month to get used to them!!! I may try to run in them after work & see if they cure all…

After my race on Saturday, I just wanted a re-do.  I didn’t do poorly.  It’s just that I have done better in the past and others who are usually slower, ran faster than me.  It’s an ego thing. 

I’ve been wrestling with running a race every Saturday (there are at least 4 possible 5ks this Sat) until my Half Marathon…

Pros:
Races make me feel good.
Races are good speedwork.
I could do my long run on Sunday.
I could add on miles after the race on Saturday.

Cons:
Races cost money.
I should focus more on my Half Marathon training.
I could re-injure my heel.
I’ll be depressed if I don’t do well.

Right now, I’m leaning toward fitting running in with my hubby’s plans…he may have to work, we may go up to the lake…we’ll see.

Happy Running! Do you do short races while training for a long race?

 

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Susan Komen Race for Cure Report

I woke up to cool temps and RAIN.  It was just sunny and 80 degrees on Sunday!!

I parked my car at work as I usually do for this race since there will be so much traffic & confusion. I planned to jog a mile or so to meet up with my team for a group photo.

However, a friend from work who was walking the race was there and convinced me to ride with her friend who had a private parking space near the race.  Reluctantly I agreed because it was raining.

I left my camera behind because of the weather but I wore the same outfit as last year but added white compression socks & had a jacket.

Race 4 the Cure '10

After we parked underground, we  headed up the stairs to the museum and waited where it was dry for all 80 members of the team to arrive. It was raining but it seemed to be raining less. I chatted about half marathons with a professor that just ran one and another who will be racing her first next week.  Finally we took the group picture and I headed down to the start line.

most of our team

 

closer up

What a crowd!  I just squeezed in and tried to get a signal on my Garmin.

The race began and the rain was just a drizzle.  YAY!!  I took off my jacket and tied it around my waist.  The rain never started up again until after the race.

I am very familiar with this course.  It  is my 8th time racing it.  It starts with an uphill and it is also very crowded.

I didn’t plan to PR it but as I glanced at my Garmin, I secretly wanted to run fast again. 

However,  my legs didn’t agree with my mind and they are tired from Sunday’s Half.  I even stopped for water and I wasn’t thirsty??

I saw my friend Mary who whizzed by me near the end…she had her fastest 5K ever and she is training for a marathon!! So proud of her!

Unfortunately, I ran out of steam and finished with my slowest 5K time in over a year…

Garmin Time: 29:39 (Official time: 29:53-gun, 29:47, chip)

Mile 1: 9:40 (uphill)
Mile 2: 9:51 (waterstop)
Mile 3: 9:18 (downhill)
         .1: 9:56

I hung around for awhile with some profs and then jogged a mile back to my car debating on whether to do my 10 miler today or tomorrow.  It started raining harder so I put it off until tomorrow.  Now the sun is out… Oh well.

I am glad that I did this race.  It is such an important cause!!!

Our team did great…those young speedy runners…and we raised almost $4000.  I raised over $700 myself. 

 Happy Running! Have a great weekend!

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Foto Friday

Warning – there are lots of photos on this page.

First on Wednesday, our Komen Race for the Cure team which has almost 70 runners on it was interviewed for the TV news.

running for the photographer

getting interviewed

 

just part of the 70 member team

 
Click HERE to watch the news clip. Click HERE to read the story in the newspaper.
 
I did run 3 miles on Tuesday & Wednesday.  The runs were not great but my training runs never are.  They were slow (12 min pace) with frequent walking…will I ever be fast???
 
Anyway, I am excited for Saturday’s race.  It is always such an emotional event. (Unfortunately, it’s supposed to RAIN!!)
 
Next, the official Adirondack Half Marathon photos (why do my thighs look huge or maybe they are & I should wear capris?) are out.
 

looks like I'm having fun

thumbs up pose

running cuz I see a camera

 

pretending like it's a not a hill

I see the finish line!

 
Happy Running! Have a nice weekend & Good Luck if you are racing!
 
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September’s Almost Over. Bring On October!

I ran the whole month of September and haven’t run this many miles in a month since April!!

Here’s what I planned for September:

  1. Hope to run pain-free – Almost (still sore from time to time)
  2. Continue tennis & yoga once a week – YES
  3. Spend a few more weekends on Lake George. – YES
  4. Run 3-4 times a week – YES
  5. Increase weekly mileage by adding longer runs – YES,  got up to 8 miles
  6. Prepare for Half Marathon #4 by doing 4 & 5 – YES
  7. Survive Half Marathon #3 – YES
  8. Run a 5k or 10K race (only if #1) – NO but I have one Oct 1.

running by Huddle Bay on Lake George

 
 

running my 3rd Half

 

So now what’s planned for October?

  • Continue to run pain-free 🙂
  • Continue tennis & yoga once a week
  • Run 3-4 times a week
  • Join a gym & start to cross-train ???
  • Increase weekly mileage by adding long runs to prepare for Half Marathon #4
  • Run a 5k or 10K or both

Happy Running!  What are you planning for October?

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My Next Race

‎1 in 8 women will be stricken with breast cancer in her lifetime.

In fact, here are my friends* who have all battled this horrible disease (if you read my blog, you may recognize them):

  • Top Row: Judy, Mary Ann, Mary M. Ava
  • Bottom Row: Sally, Phyllis, Maria, Sue

 

 The Komen Northeastern New York Race for the Cure® raises money to fund education, screening & treatment programs for these women & supports the national search for a cure.

I am participating in this Race in Albany, NY this SATURDAY with the hopes of raising  $1000 to help to provide for research programs in our area.

$100 for each of my 8 friends above who beat this disease, $100 for Dee, a friend’s sister who is currently fighting this disease and $100 for Dottie, who unfortunately lost her battle with this disease. 

( *They are all currently cancer-free 🙂 )
 
So this race doesn’t fit into my training plan but it’s a race that I have to run and Albany Law School where I work has organized a team.  We have 55 runners so far and we are being interviewed for TV news tomorrow.
 
I am happy to say my heel doesn’t hurt at all and that I feel fine!!!!!!!!!!!!  Maybe I could have pushed myself more on Sunday but who knew?
 
So what are my goals for this race?
  • Not go for a PR (I just did a half marathon & have to run 10 miler this weekend)!!
  • Not be my slowest!
This will be my 4th Komen Race & I have done 4 Freihofer’s (FRW) – That means I have run this course 7 times:
 
2008 FRW – 33:29
2008 Komen – 32:49
2009 FRW – 35:05
2009 Komen – 31:15
2010 FRW – 30:39
2010 Komen – 29:10 (Komen PR)
2011 FRW  – 28:14 (course PR)
                        – 27:30 (5K PR)

Happy Running!  Click here if you want to donate.

 
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Fall Racing

Yes, I am trying to rest my heel and not do too much racing.  But there are a few on my radar for various reasons:

1. Adirondack Half Marathon – Signed up for this one before the injury.

Oct 1, 2011

2. Race for the Cure 5k – We have a team where I work & I am one of the coordinators. Besides it’s an important cause. There’ll be too many runners to worry about my time.

3. Santa Clarita Half Marathon – Signed up for this one too before the injury.

Nov 24, 2011

4. Our Town Turkey Trot – This 5K is near my house and it is my PR race.

Dec 17, 2011

 

5. Albany Last Run 5k – For this race, you get to see the Capital Holiday Lights in Washington Park and a spectacular fireworks show.

A few more may squeak in…

Happy Running!  Are you racing this fall?

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This & That and a Virtual 5K

This was a busy week:

Monday I had dinner with a running friend that I haven’t seen the infamous heel injury.  Tuesday was my last tennis with my Tuesday tennis group so we went out to dinner after.  Wednesday, I spent the day at the US Open.

with my friend Catalina at the Open

We watched some amazing tennis matches – some veterans, some up and coming players, some upsets, some predictables- all in all, it was a long HOT day (got up at 4:15 am and went to bed at 11:00 pm).

Since I hadn’t run since Monday, I forced myself to do 4.5 miles after work on Thursday- it wasn’t pretty and I finished & got  in my car seconds before the rain came down.

Saturday for the 2nd time this summer, I stayed home from the lake to do my LONG run.  I ran 6 miles which was my longest distance since April 23 (my half marathon). It was tough – it took me 1:11 to do it with  2 water stops & some walking. (My friends kept texting me: we miss you…what are you dong home on such as nice day?…They are NOT runners!!)

Then I rewarded myself with a movie – I saw Sarah’s Key.  I read the book and I must admit, it was very true to the book.  A sad story but I highly recommend it.

Sunday am, I headed up to the lake with my friend Cheryl.  My hubby & other friends were already there waiting. It was the annual Christmas in September on Log Bay.  Everyone hangs out on the lake.  There’s a band, a parade & fireworks at night.

with Cheryl & Kathi

going for a ride

Unfortunately, it started to rain in the evening and the parade & fireworks were canceled. We headed home.

This morning, I decided to enter my own 5K – Darlene’s Virtual 5k.

I finished in 33:38.  No water stops.  I ran straight through for the first time since my last 5k on June 11 (which I finished in 27:45!!!!!).   I placed 1st in my age group.  In fact, I came in first overall. It was incredibly humid.  I was drenched in sweat (I am not a sweater) when I was done.  It started to rain as soon as I finished too.

I can’t tell you how hard this was.  I felt that I needed to run without stopping & stretching & worrying about my heel.  The pace was slow but I couldn’t do it any faster.  I felt so out of shape, so tired… I wanted to stop a hundred times but I wouldn’t let myself.

Now I know I can do it.  I think that in a real 5K race I will have more adrenaline &  will eat better the day before so hopefully my time will get back to where it was before the injury.

Afterwards, my hubby & I headed back to Lake George for a great lunch with friends at a restaurant overlooking the lake.

Happy Running! Happy Labor Day!

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What’s Up Next (in My Dreams)

Still in pain and supposedly training for a half marathon in September but you know how I love races…So…. (if I were healthy…)

This 5K is on July 23. I have run this race 3 times and I love Saratoga!  My friend Mary has already signed up.  It is also halfway from my home to Lake George.

OR

This 5k is also on July 23.  I have run the Susan Komen 5K race 3 times in Albany in Oct.  I have 2 friends who have signed up.  I have MANY friends who have had this terrible disease!!! I have never run a race in Vermont.

AND

This 5K is on July 30.  I have run this race twice but in Albany in Dec.  This is a NEW location.  It’s at an amusement park and it’s in Lake George plus I have July 29 off from work.

AND

This 10K  is on Aug 6.  I have never done a 10K.  It is in Lake George.

AND

This 5K is on Aug 13.  I have run this race twice already.  Each time I won socks – one 1st place AG and one 2nd place AG award.  The race ends with a downhill and it’s on the way to Lake George.

So, there you have it!  My races plans… (provided that my heel pain disappears and I can run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Happy Running (and racing)!

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To Race or To Train or Both?

Summer 2008, 2009, 2010 – I ran 5ks almost every weekend. My goal was to try to get faster.

April 2008 – 1st 5k – 37:36
November 2010 – 27:30  (I got faster!!)

Then it all changed…

January 2011 – 1st Half Marathon
April 2011 – 2nd Half Marathon

Since there aren’t many 5ks during the colder months, I didn’t feel like I was giving up much.

Silks & Satins 5k ’10
Mary & me before the CRSS 5k ’10

 

September 2011 – 3rd Half Marathon!!

The Dilemma…

Summer 2011:

Do I race the summer 5ks? (I LOVE races.)
Do I skip the 5ks and train? (I NEED to do long runs at a HM pace.)
Do I run the 5ks and train? (I think I am too COMPETIVE to just run a race.)
Should I move my long runs to a weekday? (What about RAIN & LACK of ENERGY after a long day at work.)

Do I Race or Train or can I do Both?

Happy Running (or racing  or training!)

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July is Here!

June Recap:

Goals :

  • 70 miles – FAIL – I ran only 59 miles but I was away and injured!
  • running 3-4 times per week – YES, the first half of the month but things slowed down when I was away and injured!
  • adding some longer runs – Again not as much as I would haved liked – I did run 6 miles once & 5 miles twice
  • a 5k race or 2 (finishing under 29 min) – YES – two 5K races – one under 29 min and the other under 28!! (but that was before the foot injury 😦  )

I continued to play tennis at least once a week and do yoga as well.  My 2 non-race weekends were  spent on beautiful Lake George.

Goals for July:

  • 70 miles
  • running 3-4 times per week
  • adding longer runs to train for my 3rd half marathon
  • a 5k race  (finishing under 29 min)
  • Get rid of my heel pain!!!

Happy Running!